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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Scat Carl Hiaasen

Scat by Carl Hiaasen Once again I have the Random House Rep to thank for this book. I probably would have missed out on this very fun and entertaining read if not for the ARC. Hiaasen first middle grade novel, Hoot it didn't do much for me. When customers ask about Hoot, I simply say its a best seller and award winner. Now I am looking forward to telling customers how much I enjoyed Scat.

Like many of Hiaasen's novels Scat is a mystery set in Flordia. Mrs. Starch a no nonsense biology teacher goes missing after a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. I loved the beginning, we are introduced to many of the main players Mrs. Starch, Nick , Marta and Duane aka Smoke. Hiaasen puts the reader in the classroom, you can almost feel the fear Mrs Starch puts into her students. The period ends with Duane aka Smoke threating the teacher and eating a pencil out of her hand. The next day Mrs Starch goes missing after a fire in the Black Vine Swamp. Duane is the obvious suspect . The obvious suspect is never guilty, Hiassen never really tries to convince the reader of Duane's guilt. 14 yr old Nick and Marta's try to figure out what happened to their biology teacher. Nick's father is serving in Iraq. Hiassen treats this storyline with care and love. There are some very interesting characters in Scat making for a very funny read. Smoke's father Duane Scrod Sr., is paranoid at times, burned down a car dealership, listens to classical music and owns a crazy Macaw bird that speaks three langauges. Then there's Drake McBride, a rich New York transplate who likes to part of a Southner, with snakeskin boots on his feet, a cowboy hat on his head, danged and pardner rolling off his tongue. Wendell Maxmo a substitute teacher, always teaches the same page depending on the day of the week and forces the students to stand up and sing. Anyone familiar with Hiaasen's writing knows how much he cares about the enviroment. I enjoyed learning a few new things. When I started this book I didn't know Scat is animal feces or that Florida has pathners, or so many Florida animals are extinict. I enjoy learning new things from a novel, as long as it doesn't feel forced or take away from the story line. Hiassen blends his need to inform and tell a great story very well.

Time to share

"Marta looked as if she might throw up again. The last time that had happened, Mrs. Starch had barely waited until the floor was mopped before instructing Marta to write a paper listing five major muscles used in the act of regurgitation. Nick and the other students had been blown away. What kind of teacher would punish a kid for puking?

Scat's release date is January 27. If you're looking for a fun new mystery to read or recommend until Scat comes out check out Put A Spell On You